The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of 12): The War Begins, Invasion of Belgium, Battle of the Marne
History
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of 12): The War Begins, Invasion of Belgium, Battle of the Marne
World War, 1914-1918
Bosnia and Herzegovina at the beginning of the war were sparsely
served by railroads. But for the purpose of an invasion of Serbia
the lines running to Tuzla in the north and to Vishegrade and Uvatz
in the south were of much strategic importance. Moreover, unlike the
Hungarian plain opposite Belgrade, the country is so mountainous
and well wooded that great bodies of troops could be moved about
without being observed. We now come to the main reason why this
point was chosen, next to Belgrade. Though we shall see that they
did not reach it at their first attempt, there is no doubt that
the main objective of the Austrians was the little town of Valievo,
lying some distance back from the Jadar and the field of battle.
For at Valievo is the terminus of a light railway which joins with
the main line running from Belgrade down to Saloniki. The Teutons
were in a hurry to open this highway, for it meant opening a means
of communication with the Turks, who were to become, and later
did become, their active allies. These are political matters of
significance here insomuch as they explain the special importance
of the railway from Belgrade south along the ancient highway of
the Crusaders.
Before following this route farther south, a few words should be
devoted to Montenegro. Between Serbia and Montenegro lies the Sanjak
of Novibazar. This small territory nominally belonged to Turkey
before the Balkan War, but it was in fact garrisoned by Austrian
troops, the civil administration being left to the Turks. Austria
had gone to special trouble to establish this arrangement, so that
it might have a wedge between the territories of the two little
Serb nations. Anticipating this war long ago, Austria had counted
on having a large enough force in Novibazar to prevent a union of
the two armies. But, when it actually came, she was in no position
to prevent it, so much of her strength being required to meet the
Russians.
Montenegro is the natural refuge of the Serbs. Whenever in the
past they were especially hard pressed by the Turks, they would
flee to the mountain fastnesses of Tzherna Gora, the Black Mountain,
for here military operations, even in this day of modern artillery,
are absolutely impossible, and when it came to mountain guerrilla
fighting, the Turks were no match for the Serbs. Thus it was that
the Serbs were able to preserve their old traditions, their language
and the best blood of their race. And it may be said that to a
slightly lesser extent Ragusa served the same purpose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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